Minister calls for eliminating terrorism through education

Provincial Minister for Education Rana Mashood has said that terrorism is a mindset which can be defeated through weapon of education. He said that all possible steps are being taken for ensuring security of public and private educational institutions in the province. He said that the enemy wants to kill our future but we will not let our enemy to succeed in his nefarious designs.

He expressed these views while addressing the meeting of office-bearers of all organisations of private educational institutions of the province held at Lahore Education Board on Wednesday.

Chairmen of Lahore and Gujranwala education boards were also present on the occasion. Representatives of private educational institutions presented problems and difficulties being faced with the regard to security in the schools. The minister decided to appoint focal persons in all educational boards and directed the owners of private educational institutions to contact the focal persons in connection with immediate resolution of security problems.

Mashood directed that venders and cart runners should not be allowed to sell eatable items outside the schools without NOC. He said that district concerned and school administration personally check such people. He said that a vigilant eye should be kept on the labourers coming for construction work and the workers of school canteen. He said that it is responsibility of police to keep an eye on the surroundings of schools. The minister said that 20 points of SOP of Punjab government for educational institutions should be implemented strictly. He said that these SOPs are both for public and private educational institutions. He said that the teachers should give a copy of SOP to the children so that they could inform their parents about it. He said that identification of the officials of any institution visiting for checking of schools must be conducted. He said that mock exercises of security should also be carried out in the schools.